A diplomatic crisis erupted between Mali and Sweden following Wednesday’s remarks by Swedish Minister for International Development Cooperation and Foreign Trade Johan Forssell, wherein he criticized Mali’s decision to sever diplomatic ties with Ukraine.
He declared that Sweden would cease its program of development aid to Mali by the end of 2024.
Forssell’s statement condemned Mali’s support for Russia’s invasion of Ukraine as being at odds with the country’s reliance on substantial aid from Sweden.
In response, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Mali summoned Swedish Ambassador Kristina Kühnel to Bamako on Friday. The Malian government has given Kühnel 72 hours to leave the country.
The government of Mali characterized Forssell’s remarks as a provocation and noted that it was taking action in response to Sweden’s earlier decisions to terminate bilateral cooperation and close its embassy in Bamako.
Mali has recently terminated diplomatic relations with Ukraine following the admission by a Ukrainian official of involvement in an assault on Malian security personnel in Tinzaouatene, located in the northern region of the African country.